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As expected, midfielder Lauren Holiday was selected the National Women’s Soccer League most valuable player, beating out Western New York forward Abby Wambach and Chicago midfielder Lori Chalupny.

Despite missing four games, Holiday led the league with 12 goals and nine assists, pacing the Blues to a second-place finish in the regular-season standings.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski also credited her presence in the midfield with the growth of a young team. Most notably, rookie midfielder Erika Tymrak thrived playing alongside Holiday, scoring six goals.

“Lauren helps everyone who plays around her,” Andonovski said. “She’s a true leader on the field. It’s not just by action, but she brings a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy. That’s why she’s one of the best players in the world.”

The most productive month of Holiday’s season came in June, when she scored six goals and was chosen the NWSL player of the month. By no coincidence, that ignited the team’s 10-match unbeaten streak.

Holiday, a product of UCLA, scored against all seven opponents this season, the only player in the league to make that claim.

She will re-join the United States women’s national team for an exhibition against Mexico on Sept. 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington.

FC Kansas City swept the six individual awards for the first season of the NWSL. Holiday won the Golden Boot last week, while Andonovski (coach of the year), Tymrak (rookie of the year), Becky Sauerbrunn (defender of the year) and Nicole Barnhart (goalie of the year) were previously honored.

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The National Women’s Soccer League confirmed Monday that it had reacquired FC Kansas City’s membership interest from owner Elam Baer, effectively folding the club days after announcing a new franchise in Salt Lake City. The rights to any FCKC Blues who were under contract for 2018 were assigned to the team in Salt Lake City.